cted.

LAX. A term for salmon when ascending a river, on the north coast of
Scotland.

LAX-FISHER. A taker of salmon in their passage from the sea.

LAY, BY THE. When a man is paid in proportion to the success of the
voyage, instead of by the month. This is common in whalers.

LAY, TO. To come or go; as, _lay aloft_, _lay forward_, _lay aft_, _lay
out_. This is not the neuter verb _lie_ mispronounced, but the active
verb _lay_. (_See_ LIE OUT!)

LAY A GUN, TO. So to direct it as that its shot may be expected to
strike a given object; for which purpose its axis must be pointed above
the latter, at an angle of elevation increasing according to its
distance.

LAY-DAYS. The time allowed for shipping or discharging a cargo; and if
not done within the term, fair weather permitting, the vessel comes on
demurrage. Thus Captain Cuttle--

"A rough hardy seaman, unus'd to shore ways,
Knew little of ladies, but much of lay-days."

LAY HER COURSE, TO. To be able to sail in the direction wished for,
however barely the wind permits it.

LAY IN. The opposite of _lay out_. The order for men to come in from the
yards after reefing or furling. It also applies to manning, or _laying
in_, to the capstan-bars.

LAYING OR LYING OUT ON A YARD. To go out towards the yard-arms.

LAYING OR LYING ALONG. Pressed down sideways by a stiff gale.

LAYING A ROPE. Arranging the yarns for the strands, and then the strands
for making a rope, or cable.

LAYING DOWN, OR LAYING OFF. The act of delineating the various lines of
a ship to the full size on the mould-loft floor, from the draught given.

LAYINGS. A sort of pavement of culch, on the mud of estuaries, for
forming a bed for oysters.

LAYING-TOP. A conical piece of wood, having three or four scores or
notches on its surface, used in rope-making to guide the lay.

LAY IN SEA-STOCK, TO. To make provision for the voyage.

LAY IN THE OARS. Unship them from the rowlocks, and place them fore and
aft in the boat.

LAY LORDS. The civil members of the admiralty board.

LAY OF A ROPE. The direction in which its strands are twisted; hawser is
right-handed; cablet left-handed.

LAY OR LIE ON YOUR OARS! The order to desist rowing, without laying the
oars in.--_Lay out on your oars!_ is the order to give way, or pull with
greater force.

LAY OUT. _See_ LIE OUT!

LAY THE LAND, TO. Barely to lose sight of it.

LAY-TO. To bring the weather-bow to the sea, with one sail set, and the